Selecting mechanism.



N. M. LA PORTE.

SELECTING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31,1911.

Patented May 22,1917.

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N. M. LA PORTE.

SELECTING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31.1911.

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Patented May 22, 1917.

30 *with the invention, the mechanism being arr earns PAENT OFFIGE.

NORBER'I M. LA POItTE, F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE CROWN CORK AND SEAL COMPANY OF BALTIMORE CITY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A COR- PORATION OF MARYLAND.

SELECTING MECHANISM.

specification and the accompanying drawmgs, forming a partof the same.

This invention relates to improvements in selecting mechanisms.

One of the objects of the invention is to produce an improved selecting mechanism which is adapted to operaterapidly and economically in connection with articles which are readily bent or broken.

The invention further has for its object the improvement of certain details of construction not necessary to refer to specifically but which will be fully pointed out hereinafter.

With these and other objects not specifically referred to in view, the invention consists in certain constructions and in certain parts, improvements and combinations as will be hereinafter fully described and then specifically pointed out.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 illustrates in side elevation a se lecting mechanism constructed in accordance shown in connection with a capping head adapted to apply the well-known crown cork.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the selecting mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig.

Fig. 4; is a front elevation of the selecting mechanism shown in Fig. 1, but with the parts immediately connected therewith removed.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of the construction illustrated in Fig. 4.

The mechanism which has been selected to illustrate the invention is a selecting mechanism which is adapted to handle a type of the well-known crown cork, the type referred to being illustrated in the patent to Harvey Coale, No. 989,336. A selecting mechanism Widely employed for feeding crown corks of the ordinary type is substanti ly that gener lly illustratedin .P t nt Specification of Lettersl'atent.

Application filed July 31, 1911.

Patented May 22, 1917.

Serial No. 641,462.

No. 643,973 to Painter and Hawkins. Crown corks such as illustrated in the patent to Coale above referred to are, however, considerably larger in diameter and are of considerably thinner metal than the ordinary crown corks, and it has been found in practice that they are liable to become bent or broken in a selecting mechanism of the type shown in the Painter and Hawkins patent. In the construction which has been selected to illustrate the invention the crown corks or other articles (for it will be understood that while the mechanism selected to illustrate the invention is intended for the specific purpose of feeding crown corks, mechanisms embodying the principles of the invention may be used in connection with other articles) are thrown in a mass into a receptacle from which they are fed by gravity. lVhile the particular construction of the re ceptacle referred to may be varied, in constructions embodying the invention in. itsv receptacle. The remainder of the partition,

when such a partition as has been referred to is employed, may be formed by a pair of rotary plates 5, 6, these plates being mounted on a sleeve 7 mounted to rotate, the mounting of which sleeve will be hereinafter re ferred to. As shown, the bottom of the hopper is formed by an inclined face 8, so that when crowns are thrown in a mass into the hopper they readily slide down this inclined face, their movement being both checked and assisted by the plate 5 which gently agitates the crowns because of its contact with them and at the same time prevents them from sliding forward too rapidly. The plate 6 acts as a guard plate which prevents wedging of the crowns between the plates 3 and 5.

Constructions embodying the invention will include a cage and selector, the purpose of the cage being to receive the crowns or other articles and tumble them so that as they pass to the selector they may be proply po it one Constructions embodying the invention as to all its details will also include a cut-off which operates between the receptacle which receives the mass of the articles to be operated upon and the cage and which will normally prevent the passage of crowns or other articles from the chamber to the cage, but which will be of such construction as to intermittently permit such passage. The construction of the various parts referred to may be widely varied. As shown, however, the cage comprises a bent perforated plate 9 having a hand holeclosed by a plate 10 held in position by a spring 11, or in any other suitable manner. In constructions which embody the invention in its best form the cage will be provided with a controlling device for determining the number of crowns or other articles which are fed into the cage. While the construction of this controlling device may be varied, as shown, it comprises a pocket 12 which forms an extension of the cage, the pocket being formed by a bent plate which is secured to the cage by a screw 13, or in any other suitable manner. While the construction of the cut-off may bevaried, in constructions which embody the invention in its best form this cut off will consist of a plate lt provided with a hub 15 secured to a shaft 16 working in a tubular bearing 17 which extends through the hopper, the bearing being held in place by a nut 18 and a shoulder 19 formed on the bearing. The hub 15 carries the sleeve 7 on which the movable partition plates 5, 6 are mounted. The shaft 16 may be rotated by any suitable mechanism. As

shown, the shaft carries a ratchet 20 which is engaged by a pawl 20 mounted on the arm 21 of a two-armed pawl carrier 21, 22, the construction being a usual one. The arm 22 of the carrier has connected to it a rod 23 which extends to any moving part of the machine. In the particular construction selected to illustrate the invention the cutolf plate is provided with an opening 24 which, as the plate rotates, and on each revolution thereof, comes opposite the lower portion of the chamber 2 and permits the crowns to pass therefrom into the controlling pocket 12.

While the construction of the selector may, as has been indicated, be varied, in the particular construction illustrated, it comprises shouldered sleeves 25 which are located between an extension or run flange 26 of the cage and an extensionor rim flange top toward the flange 26 it will not pass between the sleeves. These shouldered sleeves held by pins or screws are advantageous in that they can be cheaply made in the first instance and can be readily replaced when worn.

It will be understood that in the construction as described, as the shaft 16 rotates and as the opening 2a in the plate 14: comes opposite the chamber 2, the crowns will pass into the controlling pocket 12. No more crowns, however, will pass into this pocket than is sufiicient to fill it. As the shaft 16 continues its rotation the opening 21 of the plate 1 1 passes out of register with the chamber 2, and, as the cage and pocket 12 rotate with the shaft and plate, the crowns in the pocket will be dumped therefrom into the cage, and, by the combined force of gravity and the centrifugal force developed by the rotation of the cage, will be thrown out against the selecting pins, and will pass between them if in proper position. Such crowns as do not pass between the pins or which are not held between them, as will be hereinafter described, drop back into the controlling pocket when this pocket, after completing a rotation, again reaches the po sition indicated in Figs. and At this time, however, the opening 2% is again in register with the chamber 2, so that crowns may pass from the chamber into the pocket, though, of course, the number of crownswhich will so pass will depend upon the number remaining in the pocket. If a considerable number of crowns have passed through the selecting pins, more crowns will, of course, pass into the pocket from the chamber, but if no crowns have passed through the selecting pins no crowns will pass from the chamber '2 into the pocket. By utilizing the ring flanges on the cage and cut off plate, in the formation of the selector, an exceedingly compact construction is provided for, but it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to this construction.

The crowns which pass through the selecting pins are received in a delivery chan nel the construction and arrangement of which may be varied. As shown, the casting in which the hopper and chamber is formed is provided with a semicircular rib 29, a cover plate, as 30, being used in connection with this rib and being secured to it by screws 31, or in any other suitable manner. These parts form between them the delivery channel referred to and marked. 32. In the best constructions embodying the invention the cover plate will be spaced from the rib, so as to provide an opening 83 through which refuse may be discharged, or in case the packing comes out of any of the crowns, it may fall through this opening, The delivery channel may communicate through a mouth 3% with a chute 35 which may be of ordinary construction and which leads to a capping head, as 36, the construction of such capping heads being well-known in the art. it

It may happen that crowns will be delivered to the channel 82 faster than they are fed therefrom, so that the channel becomes filled, in which case, of course, although other crowns may pass between the selector sleeves, they cannot be delivered to the channel, or crowns may be improperly presented to the selector sleeves and. become wedged between them. In constructions embodying the invention in its best form, therefore, a clearer will be provided the purpose of which is to take care of such crowns. While the construction of this clearer may be varied,- in the particular construction illustrated, it comprises a bent spring 37 secured to the upper portion of the cover plate by screws 88, or in. any other suitable manner. The end of this spring extends down and will. come in contact with such crowns as may be held between the selector sleeves. This clearer spring is located opposite the top of the chamber 2, or more accurately, opposite the end of a sort of secondary chamber which is in communication with the chamber 2 and which is formed by the extension 4t before referred to. The action of this clearer. spring will be either to force the crowns back between the selector sleeves, or, if the crowns are too far advanced for this, to push them over into the secondary chamber referred to, so that they. fall back into the chamber 2.

i l/ hen the rotation of the selecting mechanism is veryrapid, it may happen that crowns will be thrown out between the selector pins after the pins pass the clearer spring 37, and it may also happen that certain crowns held between the sleeves may pass this spring. In constructions embodying the invention in its best form, therefore, a transferrer will be provided for taking care of such crowns. lVhile the form of this transferrer may be varied, in the particular construction illustrated, it comprises a coil spring 89 located at about the end of the secondary or supplementary chamber before referred to, theend of this coil spring being bent down so as to be adjacent the path of the selector sleeves, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Crowns which strike this spring will place the spring under tension and when the tension is suflicient the crowns will be thrown back by the spring into the supplementary chamber.

IVhen a rotary cut-off such as the plate ii is employed, it is desirable toprovide it with means for gently agitating the crowns to cause it to assist in tumbling them. As shown,.the plate is provided with openings, as ll), which catch the edges of the crowns and tend to move them. The force exercised by the edges of these openings on the crowns is not sullicient to move thecrowns in' case there is any considerable resistance to their movement, so that the crowns will not be bent or jammed.

The plate 14 may further be provided with a stiifening rib, as ll, this rib running in a recess 42 in the bottom of the hopper casting which forms a guide for the same and in anarched guide as which springs from about the middle of the chamber 2, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. This arched guide &8 is provided with an angle rib e l which prevents the crowns from working in between the stiffening rib and the stationary part of the chamber 2.

Changes and variations may be made in the construction by which the invention is carried into effect. The invention claimed is not, therefore, to be confined to the particular construction herein shown and described.

WVhat is claimed is z 1. In a selecting mechanism, the combination with a cage in which the articles are tumbled, of a selector to which the cage delivers, a delivery channel to which the se lector delivers, a receptacle for receiving the articles in a mass, said receptacle being arranged to discharge the articles by gravity directly into the cage, and a cut-off device arranged to prevent the passage of articles from the receptacle to the cage, said cut-off being constructed to intermittently allow such passage.

2. In a selecting mechanism, the combination with a receptacle for receiving the articles in a mass, said receptacle having an inclined passage surface, of a rotary cage in which the articles are tumbled, said cage having one wall adjacent to the receptacle and provided with an opening which in its lowest position permits the passage of articles from the receptacle to the cage, a se lector to which the cage delivers, and a delivery channel to which the selector delivers.

3. In a selecting mechanism, the combination with a rotary cage in which the articles are'tumbled, of a selector to which the cage delivers, a delivery channel to which the selector delivers, a receptacle for receiving the articles in a mass and from which the articles pass by gravity, a cut-off which permits an intermittent flow of the articles from the receptacle. and means for controlling the amount of flow permitted by the cut-oil.

' 4. In a selecting mechanism, the combination with a rotary cage in which the articles are tumbled, of a rotary selector to which the cage delivers, a delivery channel to which the selector delivers, a receptacle for receiving the articles in a mass and from which the articles pass by gravitv, a cut-elf which permits an intermittent flow of the articles from the receptacle, and means for controlling the amount of flow permitted by the cut-off;

In a selecting mechanism, the combination with a rotary cage having a controlling pocket, of a rotary selector to which the cage delivers, a delivery channel to which the selector delivers, a receptacle for receiving the articles in a mass and from which the articles pass by gravity to said cage, and a cut-off between the receptacle and the controlling pocket.

6. In a selecting mechanism, the combination with a rotary cage in which the articles are tumbled, of a selector to which the cage delivers, a delivery channel to which the selector delivers, a receptacle for receiving the articles in a mass and from which the articles pass by gravity, and a rotary cut-off plate having an opening therein for intermittently establishing communication between the cage and the receptacle.

7. In a selecting mechanism, the combination with a rotary cage having a controlling pocket, of a selector to which the cagedelivers, a delivery channel to which the selector delivers, a receptacle for receiving the articles in a mass and from which the articles pass by gravity, a rotary cut-off plate having an opening therein for intermittently establishing communication between the controlling pocket and the receptacle.

8. In a selecting mechanism, the combination with a cage having a controlling pocket,

of a hopper, a chamber in communication with the hopper, a rotary cut-off plate having an openingfor intermittently establishing communication between the chamber and the pocket.

9. In a selecting mechanism, the combination with a rotary cage having a controlling pocket, of a hopper, a chamber in communi-' cation with the hopper, a rotary cut-off plate'having an opening for intermittently establishing communication between the chamber and the pocket.

10. In a selecting mechanism, the combination with a rotary cage having a controlling pocket in which the articles are tumbled, of a receptacle comprising a hopper and a chamber, a rotary cut-0E plate for intermittently establishing communication between the pocket and the chamber, a selector which receives the articles from the cage, and a delivery channel.

11. In a selecting mechanism, the combination with a rotary cage in which the articles are tumbled, of a rotary selector, a delivery channel to which the selector delivers, a receptacle for receiving the articles in a mass, and means for transferring either to the receptacle or the cage the articles held by but not delivered by the selector.

12. In a selecting mechanism, the combination with a rotary cage in which the articles are tumbled, of a rotary selector, a'

delivery channel to which the selector delivers, a receptacle comprising a hopper and a chamber from which the articles pass by gravity, a rotary cut-off between the chamber and the cage, and means for transferring either to the receptacle or the cage articles held by but not delivered by the selector.

13. In a selecting mechanism, the combination with a. rotary cage in which the articles are tumbled, of a rotary selector, a delivery channel to which the selector delivers, a receptacle comprising a hopper and a chamber from which the articles pass by gravity, a rotary cut-off between the chamber and the cage, and aspring adjacent the path of the selector and operating to transfer either to the receptacle or the cage articles held by but not delivered by the selector.

14:. In a selecting mechanism, the combination with a rotary cage having a con trolling pocket, of a rotary selector to which the cage delivers, a delivery channel to which the selector delivers, a receptacle for receiving the articles in a mass comprising a hopper and a chamber, a rotary cut-o'fl having an opening therein for intermittently establishing communication between.

the chamber and the pocket, and a plurality of springs located in the path of the selector and operating to transfer either to the receptacle or the cage articles held by the selector but not delivered by it.

15. In a selecting mechanism, the combination with a rotary cage, of a rotary selector, a delivery channel, a receptacle for receiving the articles in a mass, said receptacle comprising a hopper and a chamber, a rotary-cut-off plate between the chamber and the cage, said plate having an opening for intermittently establishing communication between the chamber and the cage, and a clearer spring and a transferrer spring operating to throw back into either the chamber or the cage articles held by but not delivered by the selector.

16. In a selecting mechanism, the combination with a rotary cage, of a rotary selector, a delivery channel, a receptacle for receiving the articles in a mass, said. receptacle comprising a hopper and a chamber, a rotary cut-oii" plate between the chamber and the cage, said plate having an opening for intermittently establishing communication between the chamber and the cage, and a clearer spring and a coiled transferrer spring operating to throw back into either the chamber or the cage articles held by but not delivered by the selector.

17. In a selecting mechanism, the com bination with a rotary cage having a controlling pocket, of a selector, a delivery channel, a receptacle for receiving the articles in a mass, said receptacle being divided into a hopper and a chamber by a partition embodying movable plates, and a rotary cut-oil plate having an opening for intermittently establishing communication trolling pocket, of a rotary selector, a delivery channel, a receptacle for receiving the articles in a mass, said receptacle being divided into a hopper and a chamber by a partition including movable plates, a rotary cut-ofl for intermittently establishing communication between the chamber and the pocket, a delivery chamber into which the selector delivers, and means for throwing back into either the chamber or the cage articles held undelivered by the selector.

19. In a selecting mechanism, the combination with a rotary cage having a controlling pocket, of a rotary selector, a delivery channel, a receptacle for receiving the articles in a mass, said receptacle being divided into a hopper and a chamber by a partition including movable plates, a rotary Copies of this patent may be obtained for cut-oil for intermittently establishing communication between the chamber and the pocket, a delivery chamber into which the selector delivers, and a clearer spring and a transferrer spring for throwing back into either the chamber or the cage articles held undelivered by the selector.

20. In a selecting mechanism, the combination with a cage in which the articles are tumbled, of means for delivering the articles thereto, a selector to which the cage delivers, and a delivery channel for receiving the articles from the selector, the front and back walls of said channel being separated to provide an opening through which refuse and separated parts of the articles may be discharged.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

NORBERT M. LA POR'IE.

Witnesses:

A. WHITE, W. H. KENNEDY.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

